Research Topic

New York City -- Saks said Tuesday that lenders have agreed to amend a $500 million revolving credit agreement that now extends to 2016. The agreement also favorably revises other terms.

As a result, the department store retailer estimates its 2011 interest expenses will total about $50 million, down from its previous estimate of $51 million to $53 million.

The debt previously was scheduled to mature Nov. 23, 2013. Now, it matures March 29, 2016.

Bermuda -- Signet Jewelers Ltd., whose brands include Kay Jewelers and Jared The Galleria of Jewelry, reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 29 decreased 9% to $105.4 million, from $115.5 million a year earlier.

Revenue for the period rose 6% to $1.27 billion from $1.2 billion, meeting Wall Street expectations. Same-store sales increased 8.1%.

BERLIN, N.J. -- A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts reported that sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 were $143.2 million, a decrease of 4.4% compared with sales of $149.7 million during the fourth quarter of last year. This decline was primarily attributable to a decrease in comparable-store sales of 4.3% during the quarter. Net loss was $4.8 million, or 20 cents per share, compared to a net loss of $0.5 million, or 2 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

Berlin, N.J. -- A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts reported Tuesday that net loss for the quarter ended Jan. 1 was $4.8 million, widened from a loss of $500,000 in the year-ago period.

Sales for the fourth quarter decreased 4.4% $143.2 million, from $149.7 million. Same-store sales fell 4.3%.

Washington, D.C. -- The nation’s court is set to hear arguments on Tuesday in a decade-old legal fight that could cost Wal-Mart Stores billions of dollars if the 500,000 women claiming sex bias are allowed to band together in a class action.

Wal-Mart is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to end the massive sex discrimination lawsuit in which the women are claiming that the retailer favors men over women in pay and promotions.
 

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Retail Ventures reported that income from continuing operations for the quarter ended Jan. 29 was $5.7 million on net sales of $468.5 million, compared with the loss from continuing operations of $5.3 million on net sales of $402.6 million for the same period last year. DSW same-store sales increased 14.9% during the fourth quarter versus an increase of 12.9% last year.

Atlanta -- Aaron’s said Tuesday that it plans to create nearly 1,000 jobs in the United States and Canada this year. The lease-to-own retailer said it has added 50 workers so far this year and is on schedule to hire 500 more based on current store opening plans.

An additional 75 franchised stores is expected to create about 400 jobs.

NEW YORK — The share of private-label brands and products will double to 50% by 2025, thanks to a continued emphasis made by retailers.

In a new report released by Rabobank's Food and Agribusiness Research division, author Sebastiaan Schreijen noted that national brands and smaller, secondary brands (referred to as "A" and "B" brands, respectively) will prompt an intense price competition and therefore will cause the private-label market to become chock-full of higher-quality "B"-brand products at lower prices.